Contents :

1. The LAC agreement, the détentes and the questions
2. Giving shape to India’s carbon credit mechanism
3. Ending discrimination in prisons

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The LAC Agreement, the détentes and the questions

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Context

• Announcement: Two weeks ago, India and China announced they are easing tensions at the line of actual control.

• Summit: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping met at the 16th BRICS Summit in Kazan on October 23, 2024.

Relevance: GS 2 (International relations)

Practice Question:Discuss the recent India-China détente. What steps have been taken to ease tensions, and what challenges remain to achieve lasting peace and stability at the border? (250 words)

De-escalation

• Completed Work: Disengagement at Depsang and Demchok declared complete.

• Pending Work: Troop de-escalation and de-induction along the LAC still need agreement and verification.

• Lack of Clarity: No template or detailed explanation of new “patrolling arrangements” provided by the government.

Historical Context

• Initial Clashes: Violent clashes at Pangong Tso in May 2020.

• Galwan Clashes: Brutal combat in June 2020, resulting in many Indian soldiers’ martyrdom.

Current Status

• Buffer Zones: The creation of buffer zones makes a full return to the status quo ante 2020 virtually impossible.

• Patrolling Arrangements: Need to clarify if new arrangements will update past protocols and agreements.

Chinese Action Theories

• Territorial Control: Part of a larger Chinese policy to control “every inch of territory” belonging to China.

• Strategic Reminder: Reminder of India’s continental realities despite its maritime partnership with the U.S.

• Infrastructure Pushback: Reaction to India’s increased infrastructure construction near the LAC.

Recent De-escalation

• J&K Elections: Holding of elections in Jammu and Kashmir, with potential rollback to Statehood status.

• Ladakhi Protests: Agreement with Ladakhi protesters on discussing demands for Statehood and other guarantees.

• Pakistan Opening: Visit by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to Islamabad for the SCO conference, signalling potential openings.

Need for Government Transparency

• Restoring Transparency: New Delhi must restore transparency in its plans for the northern peripheries.

• Thorough Enquiry: Conduct a thorough enquiry of events at the LAC and lessons learned.

• Citizen Confidence: A democratically elected government should take citizens into confidence about significant moves.
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Conclusion

The recent India-China détente marks a significant step towards restoring peace and stability at the border. However, clarity on new patrolling arrangements, transparency in government plans, and addressing the underlying causes of past tensions are crucial for sustainable peace and cooperation.

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Giving shape to India’s carbon credit mechanism

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Context

• Event: Conference of Parties-29 (COP-29) in Baku, Azerbaijan from November 11 to 22, 2024.

• Focus: Climate finance discussions, particularly the carbon credits framework and disagreements between developed and developing countries.

• India’s Update: Updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) in 2023 to include a domestic carbon market as part of its climate strategy.

• Legislation:Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) is mandated by the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act of 2022.

Relevance: GS 3 (Environment )

Practice Question:Discuss the key challenges for establishing a robust carbon credit market in India. Suggest key measures for the same (250 words)

Carbon Credits

• At the global level,Inadequate accountability in credit generation leads to greenwashing, especially in the voluntary carbon market (VCM).

• Similar risks are feared under India’s Green Credit Programme (GCP) and CCTS.

Proposed Solutions:

• National Registry: To track carbon credits and prevent double-counting.

• Third-Party Verification: Independent verifiers to assess additionally and permanence of carbon reduction projects.

• Best Practices: Emulate practices from entities like IETA and Gold Standard to ensure high-integrity carbon credits.

Alignment with Global Standards

• International Mechanisms: Aligning with Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, which facilitates Internationally Transferred Mitigation Outcomes (ITMOs).

• Article 6 Rulebook: Finalized at COP26, outlines engagement in carbon trading while maintaining environmental integrity.

Key Requirements:

• Prevent Double Counting: Mechanisms to prevent double counting of credits to maintain credibility
• Transparent Systems: For accounting emissions reductions and carbon credit transfers.

• Ensuring Environmental Integrity: Emphasis on robust governance, verification, and accountability standards to avoid low-quality credits.

Focus on Disclosure

• Transparency: Comprehensive disclosure of project details, including techniques, benchmarks, and third-party verification reports.

• Stringent Additionality Criteria: Ensuring projects reflect real, additional emissions reductions.

• Regular Audits: Essential for verifying sustainability, with oversight by independent auditors approved by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE).

• Real-time Tracking: Tracking credit transactions to boost accountability and understand environmental impacts.

• VCMI Framework: Introduces a tiered system for assessing carbon credit claims to enhance market transparency.

• Challenges: High costs of monitoring, reporting, and verification systems could deter smaller projects.

Recommendations for India’s Carbon Market

• Stringent Enforcement: Necessary for the nascent carbon market to be effective.

• Alignment with International and Domestic Realities: To ensure a mature carbon market and stimulate climate finance aspirations.

• Focus on Transparency and Integrity: To pave the way for practical, sustainable development.

Conclusion

India’s carbon credit mechanism, though nascent, has the potential to become robust if stringent protocols for transparency and integrity are enforced.

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Ending discrimination in prisons

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Context :

• Case: Sukanya Shantha v. Union of India (2024).

• Issue: Segregation of prisoners based on caste in jail manuals.

• Supreme Court Ruling: Struck down caste-based segregation as unconstitutional, violating Articles 14 and 15.

Relevance: GS 2 ( Governance )

Practice Question:Discuss the significance of the Supreme Court’s decision in Sukanya Shantha v. Union of India (2024) in eliminating caste-based segregation in prisons. Mention its impacts on prisoners (250 words)

No Arbitrary Segregation

Prem Shankar Shukla v. Delhi Administration (1980):

• Issue: Classification of prisoners based on economic and social status for handcuffing.

• Ruling: Unconstitutional to assume poor prisoners are more dangerous than affluent ones.

Inacio Manuel Miranda v. State (1988):

• Issue: Discriminatory rules for writing letters in prison based on prisoner class. For example,  ‘Class-I prisoners’ could write four letters per month, but ‘Class-II prisoners’ could only write two.

• Ruling: Unreasonable and discriminatory, violating freedom of expression.

Madhukar Bhagwan Jambhale v. State of Maharashtra (1984):

• Issue: Prohibition on writing letters to co-prisoners.

• Ruling: No logical basis, unduly inhibiting constitutional rights.

Principle of Non-Discrimination

• Core Principle: Prisons cannot strip prisoners of rights they are otherwise entitled to.

Caste-based Classification:

• Issue: Classification for labour based on caste hierarchy (cleaning for marginalised castes, cooking for others).

• Ruling: No connection with ability or reformation, perpetuates caste identity, violates equal opportunity.

• Outcome: State Prison Rules and similar decisions are set aside as discriminatory.

Calcutta High Court Case (2012)

• Case: Gaur Narayan Chakraborty and Others.

• Issue: Classification of Maoists as political prisoners under the West Bengal Correctional Services (WBCS) Act, 1992.

High Court Ruling:

• Political Prisoners: Believers of any political movement should be acknowledged as political prisoners.

• Amenities: Political prisoners are entitled to amenities such as chairs, tables, mattresses, pillows, and more.

• Significance: Highlighted the right of prisoners to dignified treatment.

Way Forward

• Supreme Court Ruling: Recent judgment eliminated caste discrimination in prisons.

• Recommendation: Incorporate basic amenities in prisons by amending the Model Prison Manual 2016 to ensure a dignified life for all prisoners.

• Goal: Blur distinctions among prisoners and uphold basic human rights.

Conclusion

The Supreme Court’s decision in Sukanya Shantha v. Union of India (2024) reinforces the principle of non-discrimination in Indian prisons. By striking down caste-based segregation and ensuring equal treatment, the ruling paves the way for a more just and humane prison system.